My wife and I took the Autotrain to Florida last Summer. The sit down dining was surprizingly good, better than many resturants with good reputations. The whole experience, the sleeper car, the service, and the lounge car with huge windows, was impressive.
My wife and I took the Auto-Train 4 times with our last trip in 2011. Great trip in all respects. I took the train in November. Sadly a solo trip. Things have changed. Dining experience was way below past. No table cloths, pay for dinner and wine, no table cloths. As always it was a full train. It will be my last trip. Just not the same experience.